> I like how discussion of taxes turned everyone into a fierce defender of profit maximization. Nothing about adding back to the community, paying decent wages, etc.
You are fundamentally missing the issue. What most of these multinationals do is to extract value from the places they operate but then move all the profit (in the books) to another tax jurisdiction, thereby not contributing to the community where they operate.
Furthermore this undercuts local businesses, further impoverishing the area.
Global commerce and cooperation unlocks some truly great opportunities but the finance people can really bring ruin if allowed free reign.
You are fundamentally missing the issue. What most of these multinationals do is to extract value from the places they operate but then move all the profit (in the books) to another tax jurisdiction, thereby not contributing to the community where they operate. Furthermore this undercuts local businesses, further impoverishing the area.
Global commerce and cooperation unlocks some truly great opportunities but the finance people can really bring ruin if allowed free reign.